i have a strange sort of question for the brains out there

often when i create text files strange things happen to me
for example, i create a text file under windows, i then transfer it over to my linux system and when i open up the file with vi (using the binary, -b, flag) i have a bunch of margin returns at the end of each line ( ^M ) which many unix programs ignore and the file is thus read as one long line

i usually open the file as such, vi {file} -b
and it shows ^M at the end of everyline
i then go and delete each, which takes way too long

has anybody ever experienced this and if so, are there any shortcuts that i can use (like a find and delete command)?


thanks,
travis

That's the crappy microsoft formatting in text files your seeing.

In vi there is an easy way to remove them all without having to do it manually..

In command mode (ESC) do this:

:1,$ s/^M//g

To make the ^M do a ctrl-V and them ctrl-M.

Ah yes, the fun of newlines

To convert a file from Windows to Linux style end of lines, then I think the command you want is dos2unix.

Alternatively, there are several Windows text editors that can save with the correct end of line characters, avoiding the problem in the first place. I find Crimson Editor is very good (and free!) http://www.crimsoneditor.com/

(In the "Document" menu, choose "File Format", then "UNIX format").

that is so sweet dude, you have made my day

regards,
travis

Well for linux/unix new line is one character '/n'. For windows new line are two characters /r/n. Return and then new line. I think for Apple the new line is /r and Microsoft combined those two approaches. If you open it without -b option it should be displayed well. I think this is why people say never to edit linux system files in windows. Newbies who cannot use vi if they have a problem with gui and have the tendency to copy system files and alter them in windows. There are many ways delete those character. Some year ago i wrote a lilltle C program to do that, but you may use tr or sed or even trickykid's way ( i don't know, i'm not a vi guru).

But, since you solved the problem, i'll hijack your thread
I always had this problem with vi (not vim, lets say elvis, the standard slackware vi-clone).

when you have a text:
dgfgddg
fgdgdfgfd
gdgdgfgg

how do you delete the new line char. If i want to delete the second line i alway end up to something like this:
dgfgddg

gdgdgfgg

and i don't know how to make it look like this:
dgfgddg
gdgdgfgg

I just use dd on the line I want to delete and it will remove the whole line.

So if you had:

dgfgddg
fgdgdfgfd
gdgdgfgg

And wanted that middle line deleted so it looks like this:

dgfgddg
gdgdgfgg

Place the cursor on that line and simply type dd in command mode. It'll snap it right outta there, as this would be the easiest way of doing it.

thanx...
I'll try that